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With an increase in age, peripheral hearing loss and CNS changes occur both structurally and functionally. These changes affect the processes of hearing and listening and auditory data processing. The elderly subjects with normal or near normal auditory sensitivity experience degrees of age-related auditory processing disorder. This study aimed to explore these changes in the elderly population and to compare them with young subjects. In the present study, the dichotic digits test (DDT) was performed to evaluate the binaural auditory processing, and the gap in noise (GIN) detection test was performed to assess the auditory temporal processing function. A significant difference was found in the mean approximate threshold and percent of correct answers of GIN between the old and young subjects (p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference in the mean score of DDT in each ear between the two groups (p < 0.05). The results showed that binaural auditory processing and auditory temporal processing capabilities reduce in the elderly. Early detection of these changes in the elderly and the design of appropriate rehabilitation programs can markedly improve the performance of elderly people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stuttering is one of the most common speech disorders that has a dynamic and multifactorial nature. The evidences suggest that auditory processing deficit may be involved in stuttering. It is not clear how the auditory system relates to stuttering and which aspect of the auditory processing disorder may be the cause of stuttering. This study aimed at presenting a comprehensive review of the literature to better explain the role of the auditory system and auditory processing disorder in stuttering. We searched the literature in Elsevier, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of knowledge, Google Scholar databases, Clinical trials, and Cochrane database of systematic reviews from 2000, through 2020. Published studies on the role of the auditory system in stuttering were reviewed. In articles describing the aetiology of stuttering, auditory processing disorder, particularly temporal processing, has been considered as one of the causes of stuttering. Some researchers considered auditory temporal processing disorder as an intensifying and a sufficient factor for chronic stuttering. According to studies, it seems that auditory temporal processing disorder may affect stuttering by mechanisms such as disturbing the correct auditory feedback to brain speech control centres, instability in neural representations of speech sounds and the occurrence of sensory-motor inconsistencies in the speech control process. Based on studies, it can be concluded that auditory processing disorder may be one of the underlying or intensifying factors of stuttering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies report that a history of recurrent otitis media with effusion (OME) can affect the development of the central auditory system and its processing. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of recurrent OME on the auditory temporal processing using the Gap-In-Noise (GIN) test in children with a positive history in their first five years. In this study, 12 children between 8 and 10 years old were selected. The control group was matched according to the age of study cohort. The GIN test was conducted to assess temporal processing and the approximate threshold and percentage of correct responses were calculated for all participants. Nonparametric test was used to analyze the data. Results of the GIN test showed significant differences between the OME and control group (p <.001). Children with recurrent OME performed worse than the control group in this test. No significant difference was observed between the right and left ear performance in both groups (p >.05). The study results indicate that, children with recurrent OME suffer from auditory temporal processing to some degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have shown that children with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCLP) experience auditory processing disorder to some degree. APD can negatively affect communication skills and academic performance. This study aimed to assess important aspects of auditory processing in school-age children with NSCLP. Dichotic digits (DD), gaps in noise (GIN) and monaural selective auditory attention tests (mSAAT) were assessed in school-age children with NSCLP in this study. Mean scores of dichotic digits of the right ear in children with NSCLP was higher than the control group without cleft (p <.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the DD score of the left ear (p =.112). The score of right ear advantage (REA) in the NSCLP group was higher than the control group (p =.002). NSCLP group obtained lower scores in the GIN and mSAAT tests compared to the control group without craniofacial abnormalities (p =.008 for GIN% of the right ear and p <.001 for GIN threshold of both ears, GIN% for left ear and mSAAT scores). The results indicate that some children with NSCLP may suffer from APD to some degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]